Technology in Learning. An Interim Report of the Study Committee on Instructional Aids and Techniques.

Ontario Curriculum Inst., Toronto.

Today's children receive information in relatively unstructured form through communications media which surmount barriers of time and space. In comparison, traditional sequential learning may seem slow and uninteresting. Technological innovation in education would make it possible to place emphasis on student discovery through informative media, an approach which is to be preferred over two popular communications theories which place greatest importance on clear, orderly transmission of messages, or on persuading a person to display a desired terminal behavior. No single innovation will solve all the problems of educators. A variety of teaching methods will always be needed, especially if the "dehumanization" often expected of machine-oriented media is to be avoided. Laymen may assume from press coverage of atypical schools and from the lipservice given technological innovation by educators that modern media are being fully utilized. In fact, educators, for reasons of prejedice or ignorance, have not made full use of them. Information services, adequate training for teachers, and prototype units for experimentation and demonstration would facilitate acceptance of new methods. Research into methods available, and studies to aid administrators in budgeting adequate funds and evaluating equipment are also needed. (RM)